MYSURU: A 54-year man of Arakere was the cynosure of all eyes at Mangala village in Mandya. He ate 3 kg of ragi balls with country chicken curry in 15 minutes to emerge champion in a ‘Ragi Mudde-Nati Koli’ eating contest held on Sunday.
The performance of Eregowda stunned other participants as he gulped down six and a half ragi balls and walked away with the top prize of `5,000. As many as 64 people, including a woman, took part in the competition organised by Neladani Balaga in front of the Maramma temple of Mangala village on Sunday to promote ‘desi sports’.
Contenders from Bengaluru rural, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamrajnagar, T Narsipura, H D Kote, Terikere, Hassan, Ramanagara, and Chanapatna took part in the event. Women in large numbers went up to the terrace of buildings around the venue to watch the competition. A few were disappointed as the organisers served just rice bath to the spectators and the country chicken curry was given only to the participants.
One Suresh finished second eating five and a half ragi balls and Ramamurthy managed to eat only five ragi balls. The organizers gave away consolation prizes of `1,000 to Nandish, Shankar, Nagesh and H D Kote Yogesh. Jayamma of T Narsipur ate two ragi balls.